Three Fujian Activists Formally Arrested for Alleging Official Misconduct

August 4, 2009 Comments Off

Three Fujian Activists Formally Arrested for Alleging Official Misconduct

(Chinese Human Rights Defenders, August 4, 2009)— CHRD has learned that three veteran human rights activists from Fujian — Fan Yanqiong (范燕琼), Wu Huaying (吴华英) and You Jingyou (游精佑, known online as He Suoge [赫索格]) — have been formally arrested for “making false charges” (诬告陷害). It is believed that the three are being detained for posting articles online alleging official misconduct and attempts to cover up criminal acts surrounding the death of Yan Xiaoling (严晓玲), a young woman from Minqing County, Fujian Province.

The veteran activists were originally charged with libel, which carries a maximum sentence of three years. If convicted of making false charges, they could face up to ten years in prison. Fellow activists believe that the charges against the three were changed only for the purpose of punishing them more severely.

The arrest warrants for the three activists, who were originally detained between June 26 and July 5, were issued on July 31. They are now being held in Fuzhou City No.2 Detention Center. A total of eight activists and netizens were taken into custody for their roles in investigating Yan’s death and posting these articles, but only Fan, Wu, and You are still detained and have been formally charged.

CHRD also learned that both Fan and Wu were mistreated when they were first taken into custody. Fan was not allowed to use the restroom and as a result had to defecate on herself. Fan is also ill with serious kidney and heart diseases. Wu was handcuffed to a chair in an uncomfortable position and restrained, unable to move, for an interrogation which lasted 30 hours.

Background

Fan, a 48-year old woman, is a locally well-known human rights defender based in Nanping County, Fujian Province. For over a decade, Fan has petitioned for redress of her own grievances and dedicated herself to helping other petitioners, exposing official corruption, and documenting rights abuses. Fan has also worked with the imprisoned Fujian activist Ji Sizun (纪斯尊). For her efforts, Fan has been repeatedly threatened by the authorities as well as the local triads. Fan was taken into custody on June 26.

Like Fan, Wu, from Fuqing City, Fujian Province, is also a petitioner-turned-activist. For the last four years, she has been active in providing legal aid and other forms of assistance to those who have suffered official injustice in Fuqing City. Wu was detained on July 1.

You, an accomplished engineer with the Xiangpu Railway Engineering and Construction Company, has been involved in a number of rights-defense activities in recent years, and has provided material and financial support to an array of rights defenders. You was taken into custody on July 5.

For more information, please see:

“Fujian Activist Detained for Alleging Official Misconduct”, June 30, 2009, https://www.nchrd.org/Article/Class9/Class10/200907/20090701091726_16119.html

“Fujian Activist Fan Yanqiong Formally Arrested for ‘Making False Charges’ (福建维权人士范燕琼被以涉嫌“诬告陷害”逮捕), August 4, 2009, https://www.nchrd.org/Article/Class53/200908/20090804135831_16631.html

“Fujian Activist Wu Huaying Formally Arrested for ‘Making False Charges’ (福建维权人士吴华英被以涉嫌“诬告陷害罪”逮捕), August 4, 2009, https://www.nchrd.org/Article/Class53/200908/20090804210632_16633.html

“You Jingyou Formally Arrested, Family Doesn’t Dare Tell Mother (游精佑被逮捕，家属不敢告诉他母亲) , August 4, 2009, https://www.nchrd.org/Article/Class53/200908/20090803142159_16614.html

Media Contacts

Renee Xia, International Director (English and Mandarin): +852 8191 6937

Wang Songlian, Research Coordinator and English Editor (English, Mandarin and Cantonese): +852 8191 1660